00:00The Elections and Boundaries Commission said the legal counsel it received on a decision
00:06to ask returning officers to declare their political allegiance is that it is advisable
00:11and lawful to do so.
00:13The EBC explains that it took the initiative based on complaints from political parties
00:18that some of the returning officers are members of political parties.
00:23Dr Mukesh Basdeo believes what is transpiring now is a consultation process of sorts and
00:29he expects political leaders who have not commented as yet to engage the topic.
00:34From what I read in the newspapers, the leader of the opposition would just like the legal
00:40opinion to be, let's say, made public.
00:43So therefore, if they are countering legal arguments on this opinion, it could be discussed
00:50in greater detail.
00:51So I think from the latest EBC statement, it is up for consultation.
00:58This is well in advance of, let's say, the next parliamentary election.
01:03Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has called the EBC's plan absolutely unacceptable, saying
01:08the vote in this country is secret and no person in public employment must be forced
01:13to reveal how he or she voted or intends to vote.
01:18The EBC has since made a distinction between the declaration of political party membership
01:24of returning officer applicants and the disclosure of voting preference, which the commission
01:29also notes is protected by a secret ballot.
01:32The returning officers are those who host or manage the elections.
01:36The political analyst believes there are benefits to raising this matter in the public domain.
01:42If there was any doubt that persons believe that there was bias involved, maybe it can
01:47have the positive effect of basically seeing maybe an increase of uptick in what we call
01:52voter participation.
01:54All of these are designed to ensure what we call what was right, what was legally correct
02:03was actually carried out on the day of the election.
02:07Despite the doubts in the minds of some, Dr Basdeo is making one thing clear.
02:11But there have not been any case whereby, let's say from a court setting, that a returning
02:17officer has been found to be, let's say, guilty of what we call, let's say, this form
02:23of what we call political bias.
02:24That has not emanated.
02:27But it would seem that there was significant, let's say, voice or noise that would have
02:35warranted the EBC to take this position, to get what we call a legal opinion.
02:42Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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